New York's arts and cultural leaders cheer Cuomo's support for NYSCA

by jmaloni

Submitted

Mon, Jan 26th 2015 04:50 pm

Arts leaders from around
the state cheered news Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's 2015 budget proposal included a
$5 million increase for the New York State Council on the Arts and praised the
effort of NYSCA Chairman Aby Rosen, who promoted it.

The increase
is particularly significant since it continues an upward trend
started in 2012-13, when Cuomo added $4 million in regional economic
development funds to the NYSCA budget. While arts advocates agree this is
a step in the right direction, they continue to work to restore NYSCA to its
highest amount of local assistance funding, which was $54.3 million more
than 27 years ago (in 1988-89 and 1989-1990). There also is a proposed increase
in NYSCA staff, bringing the total number to 30.

Arts leaders are quick
to point to how such funding not only benefits arts and culture in this state,
but is also a boon to local economies. New York is home to 53,085 arts-related
businesses that employ 335,683 people, according to studies completed in recent
years. The nonprofit cultural sector is vital to areas such as New York City, greater
Buffalo, Westchester County, the northern Adirondack regions and other parts of
the state (read more
about the regional benefits here).

The recent advocacy
effort led by ArtsNYS was organized on behalf of all NYSCA recipients
large and small. ArtsNYS is a network of arts councils and affiliated
organizations from all over the state that redistribute NYSCA funds through the
decentralization program, working closely with the cultural organizations in
their communities.

Starting in
October, coalition members met with their legislators asking them to
urge the governor to request an increase. They explained to legislators that
nonprofit cultural organizations are, in actuality, small businesses that have
struggled through the recession with diminished resources and greater demand
for their services. Many of these businesses do not have the access
to corporate or foundation funds, as do other more institutional players.

The ArtsNYS coalition
is comprised of 29 organizations, including Arts Services Initiative of Western
New York.

"I am proud to be a part
of this important coalition and - along with my colleagues at the Cattaraugus,
Wyoming and Genesee-Orleans county arts councils - make sure our great Western
New York cultural sector is represented in these statewide efforts," ASI
Executive Director Tod A. Kniazuk said. "As cultural funding is rightly
included in initiatives like the regional economic councils, in order to ensure
accessibility and diversity it cannot be at the expense of general NYSCA grant
making or the DEC regrant program. This $5 million is a big step in that
direction, and I thank Gov. Cuomo for including it in his proposed budget."